Most of the characters
herein belong to Renaissance Pictures, MCA/Universal, Studios USA, Flat Earth
Productions, and any other individuals or entities who have an ownership interest
in the television program Xena: Warrior Princess. This story was not
written for profit and no copyright infringements are intended. In my world,
the Xenaverse intersects with the Buffyverse in a character Ive created
named Kallerine, who bears a striking resemblance to Sarah Michelle Gellar.
No copyright infringements intended toward the owners of Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, either.

Violence: This is Xena
were talking about here. She doesnt use that chakram to file her
nails. Nuff said.

Subtext/Maintext: PG-13,
nothing too graphic here, but if two women being in love rocks your world, too
bad for you. Move on to something you can handle.

Setting: Gabrielle and
Xena are living together in the Amazon village. Gabrielle is queen and Xena
is her champion/consort. This story falls sequentially after my first story,
"March the 16th." Ive taken
some liberties with history here, but then so does the show.

Gina Torres: Shes
Hal on Cleopatra 2525 and she was Nebula on Hercules. For a visual,
she was also Cleopatra on one of the more Xena-free episode of Xena ("King
of Assassins").

Kallerine stood in front
of the door to the queens hut, fully armed and quietly watching as various
council members made their way into the dining hall for the impromptu council
meeting. She studied the small clusters of Amazons, trying to catch snippets
of conversation as they walked past. The general excited buzz seemed to be mixed
anxiety and curiosity over the reason for the sudden meeting, and it was apparent
that while most of them knew of the attack on Chilapa, none of them knew of
the attack on their queen, as the courtyard area had been relatively empty when
Xena had come riding in with the bard earlier. If anyone did know, they were
keeping quiet about it. Xena had given both Kallerine and Amarice strict instructions
not to allow anyone to enter the queens hut in the warriors absence,
except Eponin. She had also admonished them not to discuss Gabrielles
attack or condition with anyone.

Inside the hut, Amarice
sat in a padded chair in the bedroom across from the queen, keeping vigil as
the bard tried in vain to keep water in her stomach for more than a quarter
candle mark at a time. Gabrielles nausea was coming in more and more frequent
waves, and her tall red-headed companion rose every now and then to offer her
queen a cool wet rag for her face along with sips of water. Xena had privately
pulled Amarice aside and told her to do her best to encourage the bard to stay
well-hydrated, handing the Amazon three full water skins before she left for
the council meeting.

Despite how bad Gabrielle
felt, Amarice couldnt help but chuckle inwardly at the overkill. Typical
of Xena when it comes to our queen, the tall Amazon mused. For Artemis
sake Xena, you said you wouldnt be gone more than a candle mark. How much
water can one small queen hold?

Xena hated to leave
her partner when she was so ill, but also knew Gabrielle was in no condition
to handle the current situation, and with Brutus imminent arrival there
was no time to spare in getting things squared away. The warrior had only been
carrying her sword and chakram when she and the bard had gone for their ride,
so before the meeting she had added her whip to her belt loop, along with extra
daggers tucked into each boot. The ever-present breast dagger was also in place
for use as a last resort if all other weapons failed. Wonder if I should
add the chain mail or the cape? She peered in the mirror in the bathing
room. Nah. This is good enough.

Once Xena had things
settled with Gabrielle, Amarice, and Kallerine, she commandeered Ponys
latest flame, Raella, to go take Eponins place at guard duty at the front
gate with Rebina. The slender auburn-haired Amazon was glad to help out, even
though the warrior and weapons master wouldnt tell her what was
going on. Her only instruction was to come and get Xena as soon as Brutus arrived.
Pony had thanked her lover for her assistance, and had shyly pecked the beautiful
Amazon on the cheek as a bemused warrior looked on and mentally buffed her fingernails.
I see thats still going well. Just call me Xena, warrior matchmaker.

The warriors last
stop before going to the council meeting was a brief detour to the healers
hut to check on Chilapa. Xena was thankful to see that there were no other patients
for Cheridah to take care of. At least not yet. Lets see how many heads
I have to bust at this meeting. She mused to herself. The warrior had entered
the healers hut through the back door and had first looked in on the regent,
relieved to see that Chilapa was sleeping peacefully. She made her way to the
regents bedside and laid her hand on the sleeping womans forehead,
and was glad to discover that she did not appear to have a fever or be otherwise
distressed.

Satisfied that the regent
would eventually be okay, Xena next moved to the front intake area where the
healer stood over a table sorting through packets of herbs, causing a faint
sharp bitter scent to permeate the room. The warrior approached the healer,
taking in well-toned forearm and shoulder muscles that could not have come from
setting broken bones and cleaning wounds. "Cheridah, are you any good with
weapons?" Not an insult. Xena knew of other Amazon villages where the healers
only skill was healing, and they werent expected to know how to fight.

The healer, another
secret member of the warrior princess fan club, looked up and a slight smile
crossed her face. "Well I dont like to brag, but I won the dagger-tossing
competition at the last harvest festival." The short stocky Amazon ran
her fingers absently through thick short brown hair, preening with barely-hidden
pride.

"You got any daggers
here in the hut?" The warrior stooped down and rested a hand on her boot
top, prepared to offer up one of her own.

"As a matter of
fact, I do." Cheridah pulled a small bone-handled knife from a hidden space
under the table top. With an expert flip of her hand, she threw it with swift
deadly accuracy, nailing a small piece of square parchment pinned on the far
wall in the exact center of the paper.

Xena jumped and stood
back up, not expecting the movement, and then walked over and pulled the dagger
out of the wall. "Couldnt have done better myself." She peered
at the parchment, which was yellowed with age, and noticed dozens of small holes
in it, all at or near the center of the page. "Youve practiced this
a few times, huh?" The warrior grinned at the healer before moving back
near the table and handing Cheridah her knife.

"Things get slow
around here some days. I have to do something to pass the time. Its not
like I can do sword or staff drills in here when Im on duty." She
gestured around the relatively long but narrow room. "How do you think
I got good enough to win a competition? It sure wasnt by using knives
just to cut stitches out of people."

"Fair enough."
Xena eyed the shorter woman speculatively. "Listen, I need you to do something.
A . . . um . . . situation has arisen with the queen."

"Is she sick? Is
there anything I can do to help?" Genuine concern crossed Cheridahs
face, not lost to the warrior. Ah. An ally.

"I cant go
into it right now, but dont worry. Its nothing that wont pass
with a little time. The queen is being wall-cared for. Its Chilapa Im
worried about. She may still be in danger. I want to make sure her attacker
doesnt have a chance to come back and try to do anything else. Im
about to discuss some things with your council and I want to make sure the regent
stays safe. I need you to take your dagger and go sit in the room with Chilapa
until the meeting is over."

"If anyone but
me, Kallerine, or Eponin tries to get near the regent, you tell them no one
is allowed to see her right now. We dont know who hurt her, and everyone
. . . everyone is a suspect. You understand?"

"I understand completely,
Xena."

"If anyone tries
to argue, tell them they have to answer to me."

A primal danger oozed
from the warrior, causing Cheridahs nape hairs to rise. "I would
hope that would be enough to make anyone back off."

"Hopefully."
The warrior licked her lips. But if that isnt enough and they still refuse
to listen, you use that knife on them, you got me?" The warriors
lips twisted into a half-snarl.

"Right." Short
strong fingers absently twirled the dagger hilt in the healers hand. "Xena,
you expecting trouble?" Cheridahs eyes were wide with apprehension.

The half-snarl twisted
again into a small evil grin. "I always expect trouble." The warrior
moved toward the door and rested a hand on the knob before stopping and half-turning
back. "As soon as Im done with the council Im gonna move Chilapa
over to the queens hut so I can keep an eye on her myself. If I dont
come do it personally, Ill send Eponin."

"Okay." The
healer went back to the holding room and Xena turned on her heels and slipped
out the door.

*************************

The council room was
buzzing with excited female voices, as members stood around in small groups
either discussing the attack on the regent or trying to figure out what the
meeting was all about. No one knew who had called it, and most presumed it was
their queen. Eponin had gone to each council members hut personally, only
telling them when and where to meet, and offering no further explanation. Any
questions were deflected by the weapons master, and she had merely told them
that this was one meeting they definitely didnt want to miss. Privately,
Pony couldnt wait herself to see what Xena had up her sleeve.

Suddenly both doors
to the council room flew open and hit the wall with a resounding bang, as a
dark menacing six-foot tall warrior strode to the center of the room and stood
in silence, both arms crossed over her chest, her face bearing a well-practiced
scowl. Xena silently scanned the room until each mouth was closed and all eyes
were on her. "Everyone take a seat."

A few moments of scurrying
took place as all the council members who had been standing hurried to their
places. One look at the warriors stone-cold face told them Xena meant
business. The warrior waited, not moving, only her eyes flicking back and forth
until she was satisfied that everyone was settled in their chairs.

"Siddown. The queen
is . . . otherwise occupied at the moment. Im here in her place."
Xena turned in a slow half-arc as she spoke, making eye contact with each seated
Amazon, watching with interest as some returned her gaze while others looked
away, unable to withstand the scrutiny. "As most of you know, your regent,
Chilapa, was attacked earlier today . . ." The warrior took in the watching
faces, noting only a few surprised expressions. "Youll be happy to
know that while currently unconscious, shes going to be okay."

A few murmured sighs
of relief could be heard, as Xena began to slowly circle the room in front of
the council table, which was really three long wooden tables placed so that
they formed three sides of a square, the fourth side nearest the door being
open. "What you dont know, at least most of you . . ." She paused,
once again standing with her arms across her chest. ". . . is that your
queen was also attacked in a similar fashion this afternoon."

As the warrior had anticipated,
the room erupted in chatter, as the council members turned to each other expressing
shock, outrage, and an assortment of other emotions. She let the exchanges go
on for a moment and then raised her voice. "Quiet!"

Several Amazons jumped
out of their chairs at the bellowing voice before they once again settled back
and closed their mouths, looking up and waiting.

"Now we have a
little problem. Cause you see, in less than two candle marks were
expecting Brutus and an entourage from Rome here for the treaty summit, which
is slated to take place tomorrow afternoon. The representatives from Potadeia
and Amphipolis have already arrived." Xena smiled inwardly. One of them
right here in this room as a matter of fact. "And Tildes will be joining
us as the representative for the Centaurs. The problem is that both your queen
and your regent are currently incapacitated, and not expected to be up and about
in time for the summit. Sooo . . . we need to postpone the summit for a few
days until one or the other of them is healthy enough to participate."

The warrior paused and
counted inwardly, and waited. She reached two.

"Theres no
need to postpone the summit. It can go on as scheduled and Ill represent
the Amazon nation." Maniah stood. The older Amazon was not only the leader
of the elders, she was also a council member. "I am the rightful person
to step in if Gabrielle and Chilapa cant serve."

Xena sighed. She turned
to face the grey-haired elder, the warriors face cool, the barely-contained
dark side coiled just under the surface. "Your queen has worked on this
treaty for a long while. She would prefer to wait and handle the negotiations
herself. Thats the reason I called this meeting. I want this council to
give your queen the chance to finish what she started. Besides Maniah, you arent
familiar with all the details."

"Ive got
a day to study it." And maybe make a few changes. Maniah stood her
ground, her chin jutting out as she mimicked the warriors pose, crossing
her own arms over her chest.

"Thats not
what your queen would want." Xena waited again, moving her hands to her
hips, one resting lightly on her chakram.

"See here Xena,
I dont know who you think you are, coming in here and trying to tell this
council what to do, but this is none of your affair." The older Amazons
voice rose slightly and she looked around to see if she had support.

The warrior stepped
forward two steps. "When it comes to someone trying to hurt Gabrielle,
it is every bit my affair, and I intend to protect her interests in this matter
until shes able to fend for herself."

"It doesnt
matter Xena, Amazon law says . . ."

Okay Gabrielle,
I tried to do this the easy way. The warrior moved so quickly that no one
was quite sure how she ended up on the other side of the table directly in front
of Maniah, towering over the older woman and looking down at her with piercing
blue eyes that held every indication of murderous intent. "Look you half-baked
piece of shriveled-up sheep dung . . ." Xena stepped even closer, her fingers
still resting on her hips, itching to grab the elder and just throw her against
the wall and be done with it. "After that little stunt you pulled when
Gabrielle and I first moved here, you are the first person on my list of suspects
in this matter. And as for your Amazon law, I dont give a rats ass
in Hades what it says, I fully intend to . . ."

The warrior stopped
and considered for a moment, her eyes taking on a faraway look. "Well .
. . now . . . let me think for a minute." Like a wolf testing its prey,
she circled Maniah, who while inwardly shaken from Xenas outburst, was
determined to show no fear. "So Maniah, you claim that youre in charge,
right?"

"Thats correct."
The elder took the opportunity to move a bodys length away from the warrior.

"Pony." Xena
turned toward the weapons master. "If the leader of the elders is in charge
of the nation, is she subject to the same laws and guidelines as if she were
the queen?"

"Well. Yeah. With
certain exceptions, I think so." Eponin scratched her head. What are
you cooking up, Xena? She watched her tall friend as the chiseled face quickly
moved through several emotions.

"What about the
challenge? Can someone challenge the leader of the elders while shes ruling?"
The blue eyes looked sideways and Xena grinned slightly as she watched Maniah
flinch.

"Dunno. I dont
think thats ever come up."

"Is it written
down anywhere?" Xena looked across the room to the shelves where the scrolls
of Amazon law were kept.

"Sure."

"Go see what they
say."

Eponin got up and walked
over to the shelves, scanning the rows of rolled-up parchment before she hesitantly
removed one from the top shelf. She took it back to her place at the council
table and unrolled it, her eyes darting quickly across the lines until she reached
the information she was looking for. With a grunt, she sat down and began to
read more slowly. While she read, the room was deathly silent, save a bit of
fidgeting on the part of Maniah and the soft tap of Xenas boot soles as
she walked around, pacing back and forth in front of the table. Finally the
weapons master looked up.

"Um . . . the answer
is yes. Anyone who challenges the leader of the elders and wins takes over as
ruler of the nation, but only until either the regent or the queen are able
to resume ruling. Or if something has happened to both the regent and the queen
then the challenger rules until a new queen is appointed. Either way, once the
queen or the regent is able to rule again or a new queen is appointed, a challenger
who has defeated an elder during temporary rule has to step back down. Unless
they want to formally challenge to take over on a permanent basis."

"Doesnt matter."
Maniah puffed her chest out and gestured toward the tall warrior. "Xenas
not an Amazon. She cant challenge me."

The warrior looked over
at Eponin. "Does it say that Pony? Does the challenger of the elder have
to be an Amazon?"

"I would think
so but let me see . . . um . . ." The weapons master looked back down,
running one fingertip along the page as she read. "Well pluck my feathers
if whoever wrote this up didnt specify that the challenger to an elder
has to be an Amazon. They did make it clear in the case of a queen or regent,
but I guess they left it out for a temporary challenge. So I think that means
anyone can challenge in a situation like this." The faintest sparkle appeared
in Eponins eyes. Shrewd, Xena. Good one.

"What?!" Maniah
moved around the table and behind Eponins seat, peering over the weapons
masters shoulder. The older woman read in silence for a minute and then
slowly looked up to meet cold blue eyes and a feral smile.

Gotcha. The
warrior moved back to the middle of the room. "So Maniah, lets get
on with this shall we? Im offering you the challenge and the way I see
it, you have three choices at this point." Xena removed her chakram from
her hip and spun it on its edge on the end of her index finger. "You can
choose your weapon . . ." She flipped the chakram up in the air and then
caught it and resumed spinning. "You can pick your champion . . . or .
. . you can do the smart thing and back down now and just let me assume leadership."

The warrior stalked
around the table until she was once again towering over the now evidently-afraid
elder. "If you make that last choice I just might make a choice of my own,
and choose to let you live a little while longer, at least until I get to the
bottom of the attack on my partner and am satisfied you had nothing to do with
it. Thats just gonna have to wait until after the summit. So whats
it gonna be, hmmmm?"

The older womans
mouth opened and then closed. She worked her jaw a few times and looked around.
She knew she stood no chance against the warrior, and as she carefully examined
the council room, she knew that no one else in the room could win either. Even
if any of them would be willing to act as the elders champion if she asked
them. "I . . . will defer to you." Maniahs head hung and she
quietly went back to her seat.

"Good choice."
The warrior put her chakram back on its hook at her waist and panned the room.
"Anyone here want to challenge me for temporary leadership?" She looked
up at the ceiling rolling her eyes and then looked back down. "Anyone at
all?"

Silence.

"Guess that means
were all clear here. As of now, I am the ruler of the Amazon nation until
either Gabrielle or Chilapa can resume those duties. My first decree is that
the treaty summit is postponed until I can meet with the other representatives
and we can agree on a different date, hopefully a few days from now. Now if
youll excuse me, Ill be returning to the queens hut until
Brutus arrives. Meeting adjourned."

Without another word,
the warrior turned toward the door. The room erupted in a low buzz which she
ignored until one voice stood out. "Xena. Hey. Hold up a minute."
Eponin caught up to the warrior. The weapons master looked up and studied her
friend. "You knew didnt you?"

"Knew what?"
Innocent blue eyes grew wide as the warrior turned her head to look at Pony.

"About that law
being unclear."

Xenas face relaxed
into an easy smile. "Pony. Never go into battle without a battle plan,
and never go into the field without knowing what youre up against. Without
knowing your enemy and knowing their limitations. Be prepared to fight hard,
but if you can find an easier way to accomplish your objective, take that route."

"Thought for a
minute you were gonna throw some people around in there. I was kinda looking
forward to it. Bunch of uptight feather-heads, especially Maniah. Woulda served
her right if youd just up and . . ."

"Pony, Ive
learned something from traveling with Gabrielle over the past four years. Talk
first and only fight as a last resort. I was prepared to do whatever I had to
do to make sure Gabrielles best interests are maintained. Luckily this
time I got what I wanted without any bruises or bloodshed."

"Would you have
taken the nation by force?" Eponins voice was hesitant.

The warrior paused and
looked down for a minute before turning to face her friend. "If it came
to that, yes. I dont think anyone understands just how important this
treaty is, or how big the Roman empire has become. We have to work with them
because there is no way we could ever fight them and win."

"I bet you could
defeat anyone."

"I appreciate that
level of confidence Pony, but no. Id be a fool to go up against Rome.
And I think things are gonna get worse before they get better." Xena measured
her words carefully, looking off into the distance as she spoke, thinking of
two Roman crosses and Gabrielle holding the body of a dead Greek mercenary.
"Besides, Ive already tried to go up against Rome many times. Sometimes
I won, but most times I lost. The last time ultimately got me and Gabrielle
killed and the time just prior to that cost my partner a piece of her soul.
And . . ." The warrior visibly shuddered. "I think two times each
at hanging on crosses is enough for Gabrielle and me."

The weapons master was
silent for a moment, pondering the warriors last sentence. Youve
got a lot of layers, my friend. "Howd you know about the Amazon
challenge? I mean you didnt know until . . . well damn it all Xena, what
Im trying to say is, you just got back from your outing with Gabrielle
less than a candle mark ago, and you were with her the entire time until right
before the meeting. How in the name of the gods did you manage to look that
information up without anyone seeing you? When did you have time to . . ."

"Pony, I have many
skills."

"Uh-huh."

The warrior just grinned.
"Im going back to check on Gabrielle. Can you go over to the healers
and move Chilapa to our hut? I want to put her on a mattress in our sitting
room so I can keep an eye on her and the queen at the same time."

"Sure Xena, no
problem. After that Im gonna go back to the front gate and let Raella
off duty, unless you need me for anything else."

"No. Not right
now. Thanks."

"Very well queen
Xena." The weapons master chuckled and slapped her tall friend on the back.

The warrior grimaced.
"Dont even start with me Pony. You know and I know that the last
thing I want is to be an Amazon queen. Im only doing this for Gabrielle,
and as soon as shes better Ill gladly give her back all her authority.
For that matter, as far as Im concerned, even flat on her back in bed
she still has full leadership over the Amazons. Im just in this long enough
to protect her."

"Just teasing ya,
Xena."

Eponin trotted off toward
Cheridahs hut and Xena continued on across the courtyard toward home.
Oh Gabrielle, thank the gods I studied a lot more than Amazon joining customs
yesterday. While she had the scrolls out, the warrior had decided to read
the laws related to challenges. After Pherinys challenge of Gabrielle
a few weeks earlier, she wanted to know what all the conditions were for challenges,
just in case someone else decided to take on her lover. Little did she know
how soon her new-found knowledge would become useful.

As she neared her hut,
she saw Maniah walking ahead of her across the courtyard. Xena stopped and studied
the older woman surreptitiously from a distance, and then moved in behind the
elder and crept up, totally undetected until she suddenly body slammed the unsuspecting
Amazon against the nearest tree, pinning her in place with an arm across her
throat and her knee in the elders gut. "I need to have a word with
you." The warrior growled.

The elder got a close
up and personal look at Xenas sharp features and pale blue eyes gone almost
white, that flashed with anger deeper than the Aegean. Maniah gasped, trying
to draw air against the arm pressing into her windpipe. "What do you want
with me Xena? You already outsmarted me. You got what you wanted. Why cant
you just leave me alone and go back to our precious little queen? Shes
really got you pussy-whipped, doesnt she?"

With a will of its own,
Xenas free hand back-slapped Maniah hard across the face, causing the
womans opposite cheek to grind into the tree bark, drawing blood. "You
better show some respect when you talk about my partner." The warrior pushed
her knee a little further into the elders stomach and drew out her breast
dagger, waving it slowly back and forth in front of her face. "Im
not finished with you. I meant what I said to you, both after Pheriny challenged
Gabrielle and just now in the council room. If I find out you were behind these
attacks, either directly or indirectly, I will become your worst nightmare."

The older woman reached
up and wiped the blood from her face, peering down at the red smear across her
palm before looking back up. "Youve got nothing on me Xena. And Im
not going to get into this with you. I dont have to."

Xena looked slowly from
her knee, to her arm, to the dagger. "Seems to me youre already in
it. Let me make this very clear to you. If you did engineer any of this, I am
going to take my chakram and ram it where the sun doesnt shine, and thatll
be the fun part of what Ill do to you. Do you understand me?"

"Your threats dont
scare me, warrior. Ive seen more of life than you can possibly dream of."

The warrior studied
her captive. Liar. The older womans shallow breathing and dilated
pupils gave her away, the fear on her face quite evident. "Maniah, listen
to me and listen good. Be afraid. Be very afraid. You have no idea what Im
capable of when Im really angry."

The elder studied her
opponent, pulling out another card. "You speak of respect."
She hissed the word. "Why dont you show a little respect for your
elders? You enjoy pushing around an older woman?"

"You . . . are
. . . not . . . my . . . elder." Xena snarled, tightening her arm against
Maniahs throat another degree. "Besides, you talk so tough, I figure
you can handle it. You sure act like you can. If youre gonna talk big,
you better be prepared to act just as big. You may be older than me, but Ive
learned something. Older doesnt necessarily mean smarter. And dont
try to tell me about life, because Ive crammed more living into the last
fifteen summers than most people would see in ten lifetimes. You seem to forget
that I was out conquering Greece at the tender age of sixteen summers, and that
was after a little side trip to Chin and the northern Amazon territory."

"Yes. Lets
talk about that trip to the northern Amazon territory. I know what you stand
for, Xena. I had to watch while my best friend found out Cyan, her daughter,
was dead. We didnt even know where her body was. And when we did learn
of her whereabouts, we were too far away to go get her and bring her home for
a proper funeral pyre."

The warrior stepped
back and blinked. "Weve been down that road, Maniah. I cant
ever atone for my past, and I know that no amount of apologizing will ever be
adequate enough to make up for what I did to Cyane. I . . . know . . . that."
Xena felt bile rise in her throat, biting back the bitter taste. "All I
can do is do my best to fight the good fight now. And thats what I try
to do every day of my life. And part of that means protecting your queen. So
. . . back off of Gabrielle or I will make your life very miserable. Have the
guts to face me and quit taking it out on my partner."

"But . . . we cant
be allied with you. And . . . well we just cant. It isnt right."

"Would you rather
have me as an enemy?" Two dark eyebrows rose.

"As far as Im
concerned you are an enemy. Our queen doesnt understand Amazon loyalty.
And part of that means that we dont take up with those who have killed
some of our own."

Xena sighed, a long
weary breath, and released the elder. "I dont have time for this
right now. Or to explain my relationship with your queen to you. Im not
sure I can explain it. Just know that I am still watching you very closely.
Were not going away anytime soon Maniah, so you might as well learn to
get along with us."

"I cant forgive
you for what you did to Cyane." The elder suffered one last cold gaze before
she turned and left the warrior standing alone in the middle of the courtyard.

Neither can I.

*************************

It was times like these,
the bard reflected, that she most missed the short period of peace she and her
partner had shared in the Elysian Fields. She was cross-wise on the bed, stomach
down, with her head hanging over the side as she once again worshiped the large
thick pottery bowl Xena had left on the floor next to the bed for her. "Aaghhh."
She rolled back onto her side and curled up into a ball, her arms clasped around
her knees which she hugged against her chest. "Amarice?"

"Yes my queen."
The redhead moved swiftly to the bedside and dabbed at Gabrielles forehead
with one of the damp rags she had been using.

"Do me a favor?"

"Anything my queen."

"You see Ephinys
sword over there in the corner?"

Amarice gazed around
the room until she located the object in question. "Yes."

"Take it and use
it to put me out of my misery, and thats an order, you got me?"

"Uhhh . . ."
The tall Amazon struggled for an appropriate response.

"Dont worry
Amarice. You dont have to obey that order." Xena appeared in the
doorway with a wry chuckle.

"I dont?"
Amarice turned around. "But a direct order from the queen unheeded is considered
to be insubordination."

"Well, first of
all . . ." The warrior sat down on the bed next to her partner and rested
her hand on the bards muscular leg. "The queen didnt really
mean for you to obey that particular request, did you honey?" She indulgently
patted the leg.

A green eye opened and
peered up at the warrior with an evil glare. "Eat my shorts, Xena."

Oh boy. Lets
see if I can get her to find her sense of humor. "Please. Not in front
of our guest, Gabrielle. Maybe later when we have a little more privacy."
The warrior winked at Amarice and tugged at the garment in question, the edge
of which was peeping out from beneath the bards sleep shirt.

Xena held her lovers
forehead with one hand, while she rubbed the bards back in slow soothing
circles with the other, feeling the small body heaving and feeling helpless.
"Has it been this bad the whole time I was gone?" Anxious blue eyes
met hazel ones.

Amarice sat down on
the warriors other side. "Pretty much, yes."

"She been drinking
the water?"

The redhead offered
up one empty water skin and another partially empty one for Xenas inspection.
The warrior popped the lid on the partially empty one and peered inside. "Good
girl." She patted Gabrielles back.

The bard rolled back
over on her side and rested her head in Xenas lap, reaching out and clutching
the bottom of the leather battle dress. "Not that any of its still
inside of me."

The warrior looked up
and cocked her head, listening for a long moment. "Ponys coming.
Amarice, why dont you go help her get Chilapa settled in our sitting room.
Can you stay for a while?"

"Sure."

"Good. I want you
to stay in the other room with Chilapa until Brutus comes. When he gets here,
I may move Chilapa in here with the queen and have you stay until dinner, maybe
later. Can you do that?"

"No problem, Xena."
The tall Amazon stood and started to leave the room but then stopped and turned
around. "Xena. What did you mean earlier when you said I dont have
to obey Gabrielle? You seemed like you had something more to say than just that
the queen didnt really want me to kill her."

"Oh. I didnt
get back around to that did I? Well, technically right now you dont have
to obey Gabrielle because until she or Chilapa are well enough to handle the
affairs of the nation, I am the ruler of the Amazons."

"What?!" Amarice
and Gabrielle exclaimed in unison, as the bards green eyes flew open and
Amarices mouth dropped to her chin.

"Amarice. Ill
explain later. After I explain it to the queen. So . . . if you dont mind
Id like you to go on in there with Chilapa so Gabrielle and I can be alone
for a minute. And thats an order." Xenas voice held a note
of amusement, with no threat to back up the order.

"Yes my que . .
. I mean, yes Xena." Amarice left the room.

The warrior smiled and
laughed inwardly. Hmmmm. Amazons that actually listen to me. I could get
used to this.

"You took over
my Amazons? Okay Xena spill it. What happened?" Gabrielle managed to roll
over until she was flat on her back, her head still resting in her partners
lap. "Even if it is only temporary, you once told me youd rather
run the gauntlet again than try to organize a group of Amazons, so this one,
Ive got to hear."

"Well." Xena
rested one hand lightly on the bards stomach and brushed the blonde bangs
off her forehead with the other. "I went to the council to try to get them
to postpone the treaty summit until you are well enough to preside. But Maniah
wanted to take charge and go forward in your place, which she legally has a
right to do."

"Thats true.
But how did you end up ruling? I dont understand."

"I couldnt
let her do that, Gabrielle. And I have a strong feeling shes behind the
attacks on you and Chilapa. Its almost a no-brainer. She hates me. Ergo
she hates you. Its just too much of a co-inky-dink that right before you
and I are going to meet with Brutus and put in place one of the most important
treaties the Amazons may ever enter into, you and Chilapa just happen to both
be taken down, leaving the way open for Maniah to waltz right in and take over.
Its too easy."

"Well yeah Xena.
Even I kinda figured that much out when I heard about Chilapa. Im feeling
bad but Im not unconscious. What I still dont get is how you ended
up ruling the Amazons."

"I . . . um . .
. challenged Maniah."

"Shes dead?!"
The bard knew there was no love lost between Xena and the older Amazon, but
she couldnt fathom the reformed warrior killing Maniah without concrete
proof of malice.

"No. She backed
off."

"But Xena. Youre
not an Amazon. You cant challenge."

"Actually I can."
The warrior smiled and ran her fingers through the short blonde hair. "Seems
whoever wrote up all those laws about challenges left a little loophole when
it comes to challenging an elder in a situation like this."

"Really? Thats
nice."

"Yep." Xena
continued to stroke the pale head. "It sure is. I didnt have to hit
anyone or anything. Well, at least not during the council meeting, and that
particular insult deserved a good slap. "Just talked my way into it.
You woulda been proud."

"I am."

The warrior felt a warm
glow rise in her chest that was all out of proportion to the small expression
of approval from her younger partner. "Guess there will be a few council
members clamoring to amend that law at your next meeting."

"Under most circumstances,
as soon as Im back on my feet Id be amending that law myself, but
in this particular instance I think Ill just let it be. Might come in
handy for me down the road. Besides, I have veto power. Uggghhh . . ."
The bards face grew paler and her jaw clenched. "Xena. I cant
keep doing this. My stomach is so twisted up I think the knots have knots. My
throat hurts. My head hurts. I tried those pressure points you showed me on
Cecrops ship but they didnt work. Agghh . . ."

"Sorry, they dont
work for poison. Gabrielle. Try to take some slow deep breaths." The warrior
watched as her partner complied. The bards chin quivered as she fought
down the nausea, and tears sprang into the green eyes. Xena ran one finger lightly
across her partners cheek. "Gabrielle, sweetheart. Youre doing
real good. I think if you can fight it a little, you might able to sleep for
a while. You need to rest if you can."

Xena continued to make
low comforting noises, and slipped her hand under her partners shirt.
She rested her fingers flat against Gabrielles stomach, feeling the tense
muscles just beneath the skin. The warrior began to slowly rub her hand back
and forth across her lovers belly, smiling as she felt the bards
stomach begin to relax.

The warrior heard the
bards breathing deepen as sleep gradually claimed the younger girl. Xena
carefully lifted her lover up and turned her so that she was resting with her
head on a pillow at the head of the bed. The warrior tugged off her own boots
and removed the scabbard from her back and laid it and her other weapons next
to the bed. She pulled back the covers and slid in beside the bard, curling
up next to her and continuing with the light stomach massage. "Sleep now,
love. Ill keep watch."

Xena kissed her lovers
cheek and stilled her hand against the bards belly, but didnt remove
it. She sighed, pondering what the rest of the day would hold. Lets
see. Ive got to meet up with Brutus and get him settled with the Centaurs,
and explain Gabrielles situation to Brutus and Tildes. Then I gotta go
find Herodotus and tell him the summit has been postponed for a few days. I
need to keep an eye on Maniah. Maybe I can give Kallerine or Amarice that job.
After that, well . . . lets just hope Gabrielle kicks this thing pretty
soon, because gods help me if I have to rule the Amazons for long. Course,
maybe Ill get lucky and nothing will come up. Its only for a few
days. What could happen? Amazons . . . Anything. "Come on sweetheart,
you gotta get well quick." The warrior pleaded in a soft whisper.

**************************

Kallerine poked her
head into the queens bedroom and looked around, spotting a pare of quietly
introspective blue eyes. "Xena. Brutus is here. And he brought a friend."

The warrior turned her
head and sat up. "A friend?" Two dark brows frowned.

"Yes. Pony took
his group to the dining hall to wait for you. Shes back at the gate now
standing guard with Rebina."

"Okay. Thanks."
Xena stood up quietly and tucked the covers around the sleeping bard, leaning
in to plant a light kiss on the pale forehead. She picked up her boots and weapons
and moved into the sitting room where Chilapa lay on a mattress, still fast
asleep. Amarice sat nearby in a chair, her forearms resting on her knees. As
the warrior entered the room the tall redhead sat up and rose to her feet. Xena
plopped down in the chair across from her and tugged on her boots.

"Amarice. I dont
think Ill move Chilapa into the bedroom because I dont want to disturb
your queen. I need for you to plant yourself in the doorway between the bedroom
and the sitting room so you can keep an eye on both of them. I have something
else for Kallerine to do right now, so it will fall to your hands to guard the
queen and the regent while I take Brutus to the Centaurs and Kallerine runs
an errand for me. You up to it?"

Blue eyes solemnly regarded
the younger Amazon, whom Xena had grudgingly come to see as much more competent
than the warrior had first believed. True the girl was impetuous and a know-it-all
and prone to cause trouble. But she was also eager to please and to learn, was
an excellent archer, and most importantly to Xena, had finally come to respect
the queen, even if Amarice didnt always understand Gabrielles ways.
The warrior trusted the tall Amazon to watch out for the bard.

"Sure Xena. You
can count on me." The large hazel eyes blinked and Amarice moved to the
open doorway, resting her back against the doorjamb in a position to give her
a good view of both the queen and the regent.

"I knew I could.
Come on Kallerine." Xena stood and fastened the scabbard to her back and
attached the chakram on its hook at her waist. "Lets go meet Brutus
and this . . . um friend you mentioned."

They moved out of the
hut and crossed the courtyard toward the dining hall. "Whos the friend?"

"The only thing
he said was that his name is Octavian. They arent exactly cordial toward
us." The slayer wrinkled her nose and tossed her hair back disdainfully.

Xena chuckled. "Kallerine,
you have to remember. The last time Brutus was in this village, it was because
I had dragged him here behind Argo. After he got here, Amarice tried to kill
him and Gabrielle put him in jail. Im sure he doesnt exactly have
warm fuzzy feelings when he thinks of the Amazons."

"Oh. So right.
I had forgotten about all of that. If he doesnt like us, then why is he
here?"

"Despite everything,
Brutus is a man of honor. Of his word. I still believe that to be true. His
loyalties may be a bit misplaced, but wherever he does choose to place them,
he hangs on to the bitter end. I dont like him and I cant forgive
him for what he allowed to happen to Gabrielle, but in a strange sort of way,
I respect him. As for your question, I suspect hes here if for nothing
more than the fact that at one time he promised the Amazons a peace treaty with
Rome, and he is determined to see that through. Brutus keeps his promise."

They reached the dining
hall and the warrior tugged the door open, stepping inside and blinking a few
times as her eyes adjusted to the darker room. The slayer, who had the gift
of instant light and dark adjustment, had no such brief period of transition
to deal with, the pinpoint pupils instantly growing larger in the brown eyes,
taking in everything in the room with ease. Kallerines sight was much
like Xenas hearing, tuned beyond the level of the average human to something
supernatural. They were gifts both women took for granted much of the time,
neither one ever having known what it was like to live without their respective
abilities.

"Xena, so good
to see you." Brutus strode forward extending his arm, which the warrior
grasped briefly more out of formality than any true desire to be congenial.
"Let me introduce you to Gaius Octavian, the current ruler of the Roman
Empire."

The warrior looked behind
the Roman, her eyes quickly studying a rather young man with a very familiar
face and straight black hair cut short against his head. He was neither tall
nor short, but carried himself with an air of confidence that made him appear
larger than he was. As he stepped forward to grasp Xenas arm, the warrior
read a deep intelligence in the almost-black eyes, and a sincerity of countenance
that seemed out of place on a face that bore a striking resemblance to . . .

"A relative of
Caesars I presume?" Cool blue eyes remained impassive, the warrior
masking a thousand mixed emotions at the familiar features.

"Im his grand-nephew."
The voice was low and calm, and bore none of the air of superiority or pompousness
that regularly resonated from the young mans deceased great uncle. "Although
Uncle Julius adopted me posthumously, making me his heir to Rome."

Xena turned a laugh
into a cough, chuckling inwardly at her dead arch enemy being referred to merely
as someones Uncle Julius. "I see. Well . . . Gaius, or
shall I call you Octavian?"

Black eyes flicked quickly
from long dark hair to the tops of tall brown boots. "Yes, I believe so.
Im not my uncle, Xena, and I know there was an ongoing battle between
the two of you. Im smart enough to recognize that Uncle Julius feelings
toward you had nothing to do with duty to Rome, and everything to do with personal
pride. Not to worry. I may have inherited my uncles position, but not
his grudges. Were friends until you prove yourself to be otherwise."
The young mans face relaxed into a tentative smile, one which was matched
by the warrior.

"Well Octavius,
another Amazon guard and I will escort you to the Centaur village where you
will be housed during your stay here. I look forward to becoming more well-acquainted
with you." The warrior found herself intrigued with the young Roman, who
obviously bore a maturity beyond his years. A trait shared by a certain bard
she was rather fond of.

"Xena." Brutus
looked around and behind the warrior. "Wheres Gabrielle? With all
due respect, I expected the Amazon queen to at least greet us before we go join
the Centaurs."

"My apologies.
Both the queen and her regent have taken ill, and send their regrets that they
are not well enough to come greet you personally. I am here as a representative
of the queen."

"Will the queen
be well enough to preside over the treaty summit tomorrow?" Octavian regarded
the warrior with honest concern.

"Probably not.
In fact, one of the things I would like to discuss with you is the possibility
of postponing the summit for a few days. Otherwise I will find myself in the
position of representing both Amphipolis and the Amazon nation, and I fear that
would constitute a conflict of interest."

"Youre representing
Amphipolis?" Brutus voice almost squeaked.

A full grin claimed
Xenas face. "Yes. I am. Aint life just full of surprises?"

"To say the least."
Brutus fidgeted uneasily with an armor buckle. His dealings with Xena had never
been pleasant, having been dragged behind a horse, shot at, thrown in jail,
and literally caught with his pants down during one encounter.

"Dont worry."
The warrior chuckled, sensing his discomfort. "No whips, arrows, or horses
this time, other than just riding on the back of one. I even promise to give
you privacy when nature calls, at least as long as you behave yourself."

Octavian observed the
exchange with some interest, having been briefed thoroughly on the history between
Rome and the Amazons, as well as Caesar and Xena in particular. So this is
the woman that could drive my controlled collected great uncle to near madness
just at the mention of her name? Interesting. What kind of woman could hold
so much intrigue, that time after time my uncle was distracted from his greater
plan, just to pursue her and bring her down? Shes just one woman. What
about her could cause Uncle Julius to lose complete focus and turn on a dinar
to go after her? "Xena, I would be perfectly willing to wait for a
few days until your queen is feeling better. I look forward to meeting her.
Will the representatives from Potadeia and the Centaurs be willing to wait as
well?"

"Im sure
the Centaurs will be no problem. As for Potadeia, I dont know yet, but
I suspect he will be agreeable. In fact . . ." The warrior turned toward
Kallerine. "Kallerine, Herodotus is camped between our village and the
Centaur village. If I had to guess, up near that ridge that has all those sheltered
rock overhangs and shallow caves. I need you to go apprise him of the queens
illness and the postponement of the treaty summit. Tell him Ill send word
to him when were ready to proceed. Of course hes still welcome in
the village during the day, pursuant to the queens instructions."

"Sure, Xena. If
you all will excuse me, Ill be on my way."

"Oh. Kallerine."
The warrior stopped the young Amazon. "First go tell Pony to come help
me escort these gentlemen to the Centaurs. Get Loisha to relieve her at guard
duty."

"Right." The
slayer ducked out the door and trotted across the courtyard toward the front
gate.

*************************

Eight armed riders made
their way down the narrow path between the Amazon and Centaur villages, the
horses hooves kicking up small clouds of dust with each contact with the
road. Xena and Octavian rode in front, deep in conversation, followed by two
Roman soldiers. Behind them were Brutus and Eponin, who were flanked by two
more Roman soldiers. The weapons master was uncomfortable to say the least,
not being used to making conversation with men, much less one ranked as high
as Brutus. "So, how about those games between the Athenians and the Spartans?"
Pony flicked an errant feather off her shoulder and looked hesitantly over at
the stoic Roman.

"Yes. They Olympiad,
theyre calling them. Quite entertaining." Brutus himself felt out
of place, and was glad for a topic he was familiar with.

"You got to see
them? Wow. That must have been awesome." Honest envy tinted Eponins
words, as a delighted smile crossed her face.

"It was. Of course
the Spartans won handily at almost every competition. Discus, javelin, sword
battles, foot races. The Athenians are no match for them, thats for sure."
Watching his audience warm to him, Brutus relaxed. "The Spartans train
all day long for physical competition and battle."

"No kidding?"
Ponys eyes widened. "Sounds like fun to me."

The Roman quietly scrutinized
his companion, noting bulging muscles that ripped under tanned skin across her
back and shoulders, and down her arms. Not to mention overly-built thighs without
an ounce of fat. I guess it would be fun for you. "Some of them
like it, not that they have a choice. But the Athenians are more well-rounded.
They also believe in training their minds, so they concentrate on art, history,
science, and philosophy, as well as physical discipline. They may be at a slight
disadvantage when it comes to the games, but I think in actual war they might
win on strategy."

"You think so?"

"Yes. Take Xena
for example."

Pony looked ahead toward
the warrior, who was listening intently as Octavian spoke to her in a voice
too low for the weapons master to pick up. "Yeah?"

"You ever watch
her in the heat of battle?"

"Yes. Talk about
awesome." A faraway look of respect reflected in the brown eyes.

"Did you ever stop
to consider why she can beat much larger and stronger opponents than herself?"

"I dunno. Not that
shes a little girl by any stretch, but I just figured her skills were
sharp enough to compensate for her smaller size."

"True. In part.
But have you ever seen her eyes when shes fighting?"

"Oh, yeah."
Pony chuckled. Eyes that could bring a hundred Amazons to their knees.

"Its not
just her skills. Its her brains. When Xena fights, she doesnt miss
a thing. Not one move, not one expression, not one single gesture is lost on
her. She studies her opponents and not only does she out-fight them, she out-smarts
them."

"I would suspect,
given Xenas extreme hatred of Rome, they have a lot to discuss before
the summit." Brutus studied the warrior and Octavian, noting that Octavian
was doing most of the talking while Xena merely appeared to be interjecting
a question every now and then.

"Hate is a pretty
strong word, dontcha think?"

"Strong. But entirely
appropriate in this case. After all, we did crucify Xena and your queen a mere
season ago. I think shes probably entitled to a little hate at this point."

"Probably."
Pony turned to regard the Roman, noting a slight slump to the normally arrow-straight
posture.

"Eponin, can I
ask you something?"

"You can ask anything
you want to, and Ill decide if Im gonna answer or not." The
weapons master grinned.

"How . . . how
did Xena and Gabrielle survive that crucifixion? I have soldiers who swear up
and down that they were dead."

Pony gazed ahead, recalling
a few awkward days in the village when no one knew what to say to two people
who had been dead and come back. It was too strange. The weapons master had
coaxed Xena into joining a gathering at the central fire ring one evening, and
hesitantly questioned the warrior as to what had happened after the crucifixion.

It was a chilly
evening, one of the first nights of early spring, and only the most hearty
of Amazons had come out for what had become a nightly social event for the
warriors of the village. They gathered around the fire ring in the main
courtyard and swapped tales while sipping from flasks of wine or slugging
down mugs of ale. It was harmless entertainment, and provided a camaraderie
for the fighters who had little in common with some of their more passive
sisters. All Amazons, with the exception of a few with special skills, such
as healers, were taught to fight. It was a matter of personal survival.
But not all were warriors. The warriors were the ones who loved to fight
and lived for the glory of battle.

Having the warrior
princess in residence had taken some getting used to, ruffling more than
a few proud feathers of the most decorated Amazons. Compared to Xena, they
might as well have been knitting booties. They had all participated in battles,
but Xena had planned full-scale wars and led a large army single-handedly.
She was in a league all her own. A woman with skills given by Ares himself.
A warrior who loved to fight, but didnt like to fight. It was in her
blood but she hated it, that much they could tell. A tortured soul who had
seen too much of what battle lust gone awry could do to a person.

As Xena joined them
for the evening circle, she mostly listened in silence, rarely sharing any stories
of her own, content to merely sip her port and take in the tales of the others
in the group. Only if she was directly questioned about something, would she
join in. Thanks to Gabrielle, whose bardic tales were becoming known throughout
Greece, more than a handful of Amazons had heard some of the stories about Xena
at one time or another, either from the bard herself, or from other story-tellers
who had heard Gabrielle perform and picked up her stories for themselves.

On this particular evening,
Xena sat on a log, the night air cold against her back in sharp contrast to
the welcome warmth of the fire which bathed her bronzed face to a dark red glow
and brought out bluish highlights in the long dark hair. She idly poked at the
fire with a long stick while Kallerine sat across from her, holding most of
the other Amazons captive with her tale of she and Xena slaying the bacchae
in the cave near the Roman compound a few evenings after the crucifixion.

Eponin was seated next
to the warrior, listening intently to the slayers story. It was the first
time Pony had heard about Xena slaying bacchae, although she had heard several
of Kallerines stories. "That must have been pretty cool." The
weapons master spoke in almost a whisper, so as not to disturb the slayer.

The warrior took a long
draught from the port in the wineskin she held, and stared into the fire. "It
was okay."

"Okay? You took
a wooden stake and turned a bacchae to dust, and all you can say is it was okay?
Gabrielle was right. You are the queen of understatement, arent you?"

Xena chuckled wryly.
"Maybe."

"Come on Xena,
didnt it feel great to watch that bacchae just poof into nothing?"

"Yep." The
warrior went back to poking at the fire until Ponys hand rested on her
wrist.

"Xena. Whats
up with you? You havent had much to say since you moved here. Not that
I would have exactly described you as a chatty person before, but you at least
used to talk to me, if nothing more than to give me a hard time. I . . . I kind
of miss it. I am your friend, arent I? Is everything okay with you and
Gabrielle? I mean, you seem happy enough. Just . . . different. Or something."

"Everythings
fine between me and Gabrielle. Its just hard."

"Whats hard?"
Ponys brow furrowed.

"Being alive. Trying
to understand why Im here. Sometimes I wish . . ." Xenas face
took on a wistful expression, and the weapons master could almost swear a tear
brimmed in the corner of a blue eye, threatening at any moment to spill down
the warriors cheek.

"Wish what?"
Pony hesitantly patted the warrior on the shoulder, relieved when Xena didnt
haul off and smack her.

"Gabrielle and
I were very happy in the Elysian Fields. It was so peaceful there. No worries.
No fighting. We could just be together and enjoy that, and not have to constantly
wonder when the next attack would come, or what problem we would be asked to
solve next. It was beautiful and it was perfect. Now were back and I have
to watch her work through the aftermath of the crucifixion. Listen to her nightmares.
Watch her sometimes go so deep inside herself Im afraid she wont
come back out. It hurts and there doesnt seem to be a damned thing I can
do about it."

"Xena. I wasnt
there. Ive heard Amarice tell me about what Eli did. What was that like?"

"I . . . dont
like to talk about that." The warrior picked up a small stone and studied
it before chunking it savagely into the fire. "But youre my friend,
and you deserve to know. So Im going to tell you the whole thing, and
then I dont want to talk about it again, okay?"

"Xena, you dont
have to . . ."

"Okay?" The
blue eyes looked pleadingly into Ponys, and the weapons master realized
that was the warriors way of telling her that she needed to talk about
it.

"Okay."

In tones so low that
none of the others realized what she was talking about, Xena had recounted everything,
slowly at first, explaining how she felt when the chakram hit her back. What
it was like to feel completely helpless, watching the bard kill all those soldiers
on her behalf. The agony she was in as she watched the Romans beat and crucify
Gabrielle. What it had been like in the Elysian Fields, and how she felt when
she first woke up in the inn near Mount Ymarro and realized she was alive again.
What it was like to realize she was in love with Gabrielle, and how much joy
that brought her. How she felt she didnt deserve it. How the bard redeemed
her soul over and over again. Her own fear that she couldnt give Gabrielle
what she needed.

By the time the warrior
was finished, everyone else had long since left the fire and it was well past
midnight, the moon having set, leaving hundreds of twinkling stars alone in
the sky. The weapons master had merely listened, occasionally making low sympathetic
noises, but never speaking for fear she might miss this one chance to understand
what her friend had been through. Pony had helped the somewhat inebriated warrior
back to the queens hut, and assisted Gabrielle in getting Xena into bed.

The queen had followed
her back into the sitting room. "What happened? Xena doesnt get drunk.
Not unless shes really upset." Green eyes flashed, demanding an answer.

"She told me about
everything."

"Everything about
what?"

"The crucifixion.
And all."

"Oh." The
bard draped an arm across the weapons masters shoulders. "Thank you.
We talk about it, but sometimes its too much. Too much emotion between
us. Its too hard to watch each other hurting, knowing that on some level
we are capable of being the reason for that much pain, even if its for
a good reason -- being in love, I mean. Im . . . glad she talked to you.
I think she needed that. She holds it in a lot because she doesnt want
to watch me hurt. Im glad she has you for a friend, Pony."

Eponin slowly came back
to the present and sighed, subconsciously shifting her reins from hand to hand.
"They didnt survive. They died." She watched as Brutus tried
to come to terms with her answer.

"Brutus, its
a long story, some of which is very personal and private. So Ill give
you the facts and only the facts, got me?"

"Uh . . . yeah.
Im all ears."

The Roman listened incredulously
as the weapons master told him everything that had happened, from the beatings
to the crucifixion, to Amarice rescuing the bodies, to Eli bringing them back
from the dead. As she finished he swallowed a few times, gazing thoughtfully
at his saddle horn before he looked up with an incredibly sad look on his face.
"You know, Eponin. I had no idea Caesar was going to crucify them. Especially
Gabrielle. If I had known I would have let her and Eli and his people go. Caesar
lied to me."

"You killed Ephiny.
Amarice told me it was you. You cant hide behind Caesars lies on
that one. You did it with your own sword."

"I didnt
know who she was. What queen or regent ranked that high fights at the front
of the line? I thought she was just another Amazon."

"She wasnt
just another Amazon. She was a true warrior. She fought at the front because
she never asked us to do anything she wasnt willing to do herself. And
she was one of my best friends." Pony blinked, determined not to shed any
tears in front of Brutus.

"I am truly sorry.
About Ephiny. And about Xena and your queen. I wish I could go back and change
all of that, but I cant."

"Didnt say
you werent a coward. Just said I believe youre sorry now."

Ouch. "Okay.
I deserve that."

"Yes you do."

They rode on in silence,
all pretext of conversation gone to the wayside.

Ahead of them, Xenas
head was cocked to one side, listening to a young Roman ruler she was becoming
more and more impressed with, with each passing moment. She mostly listened
while looking ahead, wanting to hear what he had to say without seeing a face
so similar to one she hated, hoping to give him a fair chance without allowing
her own personal prejudices to interfere.

". . . so yes,
I want to increase Roman territory, but not at the expense of the people in
the conquered areas. I have little need for backwoods villages like Potadeia
and Amphipolis, no offense to you." Octavian looked over at the tall dark
woman, who was intriguing him almost as much with her silence as he was her
with his words.

"None taken."
Xena grinned. "Id rather you not have need of them."

That brought a genuine
laugh to the Romans lips. "The only reason I pay any attention to
them at all is that they just happen to be part of a country that is already
under Roman rule. You do realize that, dont you? That Greece is part of
the Roman Empire?"

"Yes. Though I
dont think most Greeks know it. It hasnt affected the lives of the
farming and shepherding villages enough for them to see any difference. Athens
basically gave up without a struggle, from what I heard. No one even knew unless
they were living in Athens when the transition took place. Smart of Caesar to
allow the rulers in Athens to stay there, even if it was just a sham. He avoided
a massive uprising and gained the entire country all at the same time. I was
far away at the time, with the northern Amazons."

"What were you
doing all the way that far north? Isnt that . . ."

"North of Chin.
In Mongolia."

"What in Hades
would drive you that far away?"

"Its complicated."
The warrior looked through Octavian for a long moment, remembering one of the
most painful times of her life, thinking Gabrielle dead, and willing to do anything
to see the bard one more time.

"I see." The
Roman decided not to press any further, sensing this particular area was off
limits.

Xena attempted a half-smile.
"Suffice it to say its probably a good thing I was out of the country.
If I had known Rome was marching on Athens, I would have tried to stop Caesar,
and I might have died in the process." Before I knew an Eli or an Amarice.
Before I had earned Gabrielles redemption. The warrior added silently.

"Maybe. Although
tales of your fighting skills are told from Gaul to the Carpathian Sea."

"That far?"
Xenas eyebrows shot up.

"Yes. It seems
that several rather outstanding bards were at the Academy in Athens at the same
time as Gabrielle was there. Shes famous you know. Almost as famous as
you."

"Ive tried
to tell her, but she doesnt believe me." The warrior chuckled, shifting
in her saddle and finally allowing herself to look Octavian in the eyes. "So
. . ." Xena gently steered him back to his vision. "If you have no
use for small Greek villages, why are you here?"

"Im hoping
that if I promise to leave Amphipolis, and Potadeia, and the Centaurs, and the
Amazons alone and allow them to live peacefully in their own territories, that
in exchange for that I wont get any trouble from them. Amazons and Centaurs
certainly dont fit into my big picture, and I believe they have a right
to live their lives without interference from Rome. Many Romans dont even
believe Centaurs and Amazons exist. Theyve never seen them."

"Whats in
it for you? If we did give you trouble, your army is big enough to come down
and squash us into oblivion."

"Thats true.
But thats not how I want to do things if I can avoid it. I have no desire
to stomp on simple people that will probably never even see Rome. I want prosperity
for Rome, but I can get that from the larger cities Caesar conquered. And I
hope to gain it in such a way that the people in those cities will also profit
from it. I dont intend to pillage. Im hoping to gain some revenue
through taxes and trade agreements. But I want the merchants and traders to
have incentive to be productive. Frankly, the smaller villages dont have
enough livestock or crops to make it profitable to send tax collectors there.
It would cost more for the upkeep to send a tax collector to the smallest villages
than we would gain from any taxes collected."

Xena appraised the younger
man, guessing that he was not more than nineteen or twenty summers old, younger
even than Gabrielle. "Youve really thought this out, havent
you?"

Octavian turned in the
saddle, squinting into the rays of sunlight that broke through the tree branches
above their heads. "Im not Caesar although a few people have started
calling me Octavian Caesar. I watched my Uncle Julius ruin hundreds of lives.
He used people and discarded them like you and I might discard our boots after
they wear out. He hurt me too, just like he hurt almost everyone else that ever
entered his life. He had almost nothing to do with me when he was alive. Even
in death he is just using me."

"What do you mean
by that? He made you his heir. Gave you the entire damned Roman Empire. Sounds
like a pretty good deal to me. Though Im not sure Id want that large
of a responsibility." The words startled the warrior, even as she heard
them come out of her own mouth. Well. If you ever needed proof youve
changed Xena, look no further. Was a time when youre hunger for power
was unstoppable. If it werent for Hercules, you might still be out there.
How far would you have gone in your desire to have more and more? She shook
her head slightly in an effort to focus.

"It is a great
inheritance, but it was given to me by my uncle only as a means to get back
at someone else. He . . . has a son."

"Didnt know
that. Whos the lucky mother?" The warrior reached around and lifted
her water skin from its hook on Argos saddle, taking a long sip.

"Cleopatra."

Xena snorted water through
her nose, spewing it on Argos head in the process. The mare expressed
her displeasure by sidestepping, dancing uneasily from hoof to hoof. The warrior
patted the palomino on the side of her neck in an attempt to gentle her. "Sorry
girl." She turned to Octavian, who was doing his best to hide his amusement
to no avail. "Cleopatra?! Damn. I knew Caesar got around, but a kid with
the queen of Egypt? Amazing. So how did old Cleo take it when she found out
Caesar made you his heir?"

"Um . . . old?
You havent met her, have you?" The Roman chuckled.

The warrior grinned,
remembering a rather attractive ebony-skinned Egyptian queen, who had made little
effort to hide her own attraction to Xena. The warrior had been so tempted to
go with that, to have a little harmless pleasure, but her growing feelings for
Gabrielle had stopped her. Even then on some level, she had known that such
a dalliance would have hurt the bard. "Didnt mean that literally.
Actually, shes an old friend of mine. I rescued her a while back from
some people who wanted to kill her."

Is there anyone
who hasnt met you, Xena? Octavian wondered silently. "Cleopatra
didnt take it too well when she found out about me. She was another woman
in a long line of women my uncle used only until he could get no more from them."

"Believe me. I
know. I was one of those women."

"So I heard. But
Cleopatra had one thing she could hold over Uncle Julius head that the
others didnt. Apparently she was very fertile and he was not. She bore
his child. His only child. And she named him Caesarian and never let my uncle
forget that unless he produced another heir, that someday her child was going
to have his entire empire."

"But Caesar used
you to get around that."

"Yes. And Cleopatra
was furious. By the time Uncle Julius died, she had taken up with Marc Antony,
who was my uncles best friend for many years. I think she was using Antony
to get back at my uncle, just like he used me to get back at her. Antony was
already in Rome when Uncle Julius died, while I was in Gaul with my grandmother,
Uncle Julius oldest sister. I had to travel a long way on horseback to
get to Rome and claim my title, and when I arrived Antony had already taken
over Rome. He was quite popular. I decided not to fight that, because I wanted
to get off on the right foot with my people. So I formed a triumvirate with
Antony and another friend of mine, Marcus Lepidus. Lepidus is enough to balance
us, and it seems to be working out okay. I do still have ultimate authority
over Rome, but as long as they dont try anything too far-fetched, I try
not to shoot down too many of their ideas."

"What about Cleopatra?"

"She seems appeased
for now, since shes so tight with Antony. She probably benefits from this
arrangement almost as much as she would have if Caesarian were ruling Rome.
Maybe more because Caesarian is a spoiled weak brat. He would have been crushed
by Caesars enemies in no time if he had been named as heir. And I benefit
because Antony is away much of the time in Egypt with her, and thus out of my
hair."

"Marc Antony. Dont
believe I know him." The warrior racked her brain, trying to put a face
with the name.

"He was in the
senate under Uncle Julius, but was never a major player until after he died.
Rumor is that he was one of the ones that killed my uncle. You know Xena . .
." Octavian pinned her with unwavering black eyes. "Brutus said you
were the one that warned him about Caesars plan to make himself emperor.
So in a way, you are responsible for my uncles death."

"Hey!" The
warrior barked. "I just told him what I heard. I didnt tell him what
to do about it. And I needed information from Brutus, so I dangled that carrot
in front of him to get what I needed. Besides, Caesar crucified me twice, so
turnabout is fair play."

"Touche,
Xena."

"That some kind
of insult?" The warrior eyed him warily.

"No. A phrase I
picked up in Gaul. It means hats off to you."

"Oh. Well in that
case, thank you." Xena grinned. She looked up and spotted a familiar figure
way down the path. "That would be Tildes straight ahead. Were almost
to the Centaur village."

*************************

It had taken less than
a candle mark to make introductions and get the Romans settled into their temporary
quarters. Tildes had given them a brief tour and then showed them a pit where
a large pig was roasting for a feast the Centaurs had planned in honor of their
guests. Xena had almost, almost laughed, when two of the Roman soldiers
eyes had practically popped out of their skulls as Tildes greeted them on the
road earlier. Just as Octavian had said, neither man had ever seen a Centaur
and didnt believe they existed, thinking the talk of staying with Centaurs
was a cock-eyed story to keep them in the dark about some big secret Roman plan.

Tildes had agreed to
postpone the summit until Gabrielle was well, and assured the warrior that the
Romans would be well-entertained until then. Xena looked around approvingly
at the all but sparkling village, the normally-present smell of Centaur dung
not permeating the air to disturb her sensitive nose. Tildes made them clean
up the place. He invited Xena to stay for the feast, but she bowed out,
telling him she needed to get back to the Amazons to see to Gabrielle. She had
managed to keep from either Octavian or Tildes that she thought Gabrielle and
Chilapa had been attacked by some of their own Amazons, deciding that the appearance
of a minor civil war might not set a good precedent for the summit.

Eponin had gotten caught
up in a rather deep discussion with one of the Centaurs who had been friends
with Phantes and Ephiny. Xena excused herself and made her way behind the barn
where the Centaurs kept their pigs and cows, the presence of horses notably
absent. Tildes had once told Xena that frankly, horses gave most Centaurs the
heebie-jeebies, as it was strange to see a creature so similar to themselves
that was in reality so very different. She had left Argo behind the barn to
graze, as secretly she believed the sight of Centaurs unnerved the poor war
horse almost as much as she did them.

"Hey girl, you
ready to go back home?" She hefted up the heavy leather saddle and dropped
it onto the mares back, cinching it before she tucked the saddle bags
back in place. As she reached down to pick up the bridle, she heard small hooves
running toward her, just as Argo reared briefly in response. "Easy, there."

"Auntie Xena!"

A huge smile broke out
on the warriors face. "Xenon, Im so glad to see you."
She bent down and threw her arms around the young Centaurs shoulders.
"I didnt think you were in the village. Tildes told me you were off
on a hunting trip with one of your uncles."

"Was. But when
I heard you was coming for a visit, I asked him to come back early." Xenons
brown eyes and blonde curls caused Xenas heart to lurch in memory of his
mother. He frowned and looked up at her. "Heard bad stuffs had happened
to you. You okay now?"

The warrior dropped
to one knee to get on eye level with her young friend. "Im fine."
She brushed back a tuft of thick blonde hair that had fallen over one of the
boys eyes. "I should be asking you that question. Are you okay?"

A small lip puckered
out and Xenon pawed at the ground with one front hoof. "Mostly."

"You miss your
Mom, huh?" Xena drew the boy into another hug.

The lip began to quiver
and tears trickled down Xenons face. The warrior pulled him against her,
feeling the young boy silently sob against her shoulder. "Hey. Its
okay. I miss her too." The crying continued for several long moments, as
Xena stroked the blonde curls and made little shushing noises. Finally the Centaur
pulled back a little and sniffed.

"Xenon, have you
been holding that in all this time?" From the amount of tears shed, the
warrior guessed correctly that this was the first time the boy had allowed himself
to cry over Ephinys death. She remembered the brave front he had put up
at his mothers funeral pyre, looking straight ahead with no expression.

"Dont wants
to cry in front of the other Centaurs. Wants to be a man." The lip poked
out again, this time with stubborn defiance.

"Xenon, let me
let you in on a little secret, okay?"

"A secret? Sure."
The brown eyes grew wide with anticipation.

"Real men arent
afraid to cry. It takes a braver man to show his feelings, than it does to hold
them all in."

"But they might
laugh at me."

"Honey, I dont
think they will. But if they do, you just come see me. You are welcome to come
visit me and your Aunt Gabrielle any time."

"Really?"

"Really. We both
loved your mother a great deal, and she would have wanted us to look out for
you."

"Awesome."
The boy smiled and then turned, as they both heard someone coming around the
barn.

Xena cocked her head.
Uh oh. "Xenon. Why dont you go say hello to Eponin? I need
to have a word with this gentleman. Ill come back to visit you soon."

"Promise?"

"Promise. Now go
on. Pony would love to see you." She swatted the young Centaur playfully
on the rump as he trotted away.

The warrior stood, just
as Octavian rounded the corner. "Hello. Im about to leave. You need
something?"

"No. But I want
something." The Roman closed the distance between them, and Xena found
herself backing up until she was pressed against the barn wall. She sensed the
energy rolling off Octavian and cursed silently to herself, putting a screeching
halt on her reflexes, which were screaming to lash out and knock the man senseless.

Xena took a deep breath
to steady herself, as Octavian stepped way inside her comfort zone, reaching
out to trace her jawline with one finger. "You know Xena, you are a very
beautiful woman."

"Thank you."
Wary blue eyes met black ones, as several thoughts raced through the warriors
mind, the words cradle and robber sticking close to
the forefront. Oh gods. This young boy, who just happens to rule half of
the know world, wants me. In that way. What is it with me and royalty? Caesar,
Lao Ma, Cyan, Ulysses, Cleopatra, geez, even Gabrielle is an Amazon queen. And
now heres yet another monarch just dying to get me between the sheets.

"I . . . um . .
. would really be honored if you would spend some time with me tonight. I really
want to get to know you better. Perhaps Tildes could give us use of a private
hut." Octavian licked his lips as the bold finger reached higher, intent
on tracing Xenas own lips. He was stopped, as a strong hand grabbed his
wrist and pulled it down.

"Why not? I can
tell youre intrigued by me. And I hope you can tell I feel the same way
about you." The disappointed Roman stepped back and the warrior felt her
shoulders immediately relax.

"Octavian, Im
flattered. Beyond measure. And yes, I find your ideas quite intriguing. But
I cant do this. The old Xena would have in a heartbeat. But this one cant.
Youre a man of honor, are you not?"

"I like to think
I am."

"Then I hope youll
understand when I tell you that I am in a committed relationship with someone
else, and she would be hurt very badly if I were to cheat on her with you."

"She? Oh right.
Amazons. But I thought you liked men. You were with my uncle at one time, correct?"

"Correct."
The warrior eyed him speculatively. Guess Brutus didnt tell him about
me and Gabrielle. "And Octavian that was all about power. It had nothing
to do with love or even like. Love is gender-blind. Ive been with lots
of men and women. Being in love changes everything for me, and I have only fallen
in love once. With another woman, the same one Im with now."

"I can respect
that, Xena. I wouldnt want to be the one to cause you to hurt your partner.
Tell her shes a very lucky woman."

"Youll meet
her at the summit. And after that I think youll understand why I feel
like Im the lucky woman."

"She must be something
else."

"That she is."
The warrior smiled, unable to hide the sparkle in her eyes.

"Well then, I look
forward to meeting her. Until the summit." Octavian nodded at the warrior
and turned, causing his cape to swish about his shoulders, and strode back around
the barn just as Eponin came to find Xena.

"Xena, you ready
to go? Sun will be going down soon. Raella will be fit to be tied if . . ."
She stopped as she realized the warrior was leaning against the barn wall, eyes
closed, the fingers of both hands clutched tightly around her chakram, mumbling
unintelligibly under her breath. "What in blazes is wrong with you?"